Investigates Blog

Feds: FW couple kept Nigerian slave for 9 years

In federal records, she is known only by her initials. And her story is one of suffering beyond anything I can imagine:

She was a widowed mother in Nigeria, struggling to feed six young children. A Nigerian couple living in North Texas provided her fake immigration documents and lured her here, promising a salary and payments to her kids.

Here’s what she allegedly got in return: 16-hour work days of cooking, cleaning and caring for the couple’s kids — seven days a week, for nine years. Virtually no money or contact with the outside world. Forced sex with the man of the house.

Emmanuel Nnaji and wife Ngozi Nnaji are now charged with conspiracy, forced labor and other crimes. If convicted, they face up to 55 years in prison. Federal records say they have lived in Irving, Arlington and Fort Worth.